15 Comments
User's avatar
Rick McClelland's avatar

I've always been somewhat partial to my name. I haven't met very many Ricks on my travels, so it feels fairly unique. It also has a lot of built-in nicknames, some crass and others not, so I feel like that's given it a more unique feel. I think if I ever had a son, I'd probably try to pass the name on, since it's my dad's as well.

Expand full comment
Emily Burnett's avatar

I really liked reading your name thoughts! I'm now trying to remember how many Ricks I've met in my life and I'm coming up with only three, which is saying something about it's uniqueness because I've met a LOT of people and I remember names. I've always assumed Rick is short for Richard—is that the case for you? That'd be very cool to give a future son a family legacy name

Expand full comment
Rick McClelland's avatar

It is short for Richard but I don’t really like that name very much so I choose not to acknowledge it….

Expand full comment
Emily Burnett's avatar

I shall not acknowledge it either then ;-) All Rick, all the time

Expand full comment
Tracers's avatar

lol. My name rhymes with Staceee, but I only have the two Es. I’ve only met one person who’s been given that name since the sixties. Now, Brittany is forever 😉

Expand full comment
Emily Burnett's avatar

ONLY the two e's, eh? 😉 You've only met one other Tracee since the 60s, or one other Stacee? Either way, it's remarkable! Come to think of it, I don't know very many myself...

Expand full comment
Cara Bradley's avatar

This is such an interesting post! My birth name is Carolyn. I never, ever connected with it. Shortened to Cara in my early 30's. Never looked back.

Expand full comment
Emily Burnett's avatar

Knowing you only as a Cara, it's very hard to imagine you as a Carolyn. That had to be an empowering shift to truncate your name to something that suited you more!

Expand full comment
Katie Steedly Curling's avatar

I so appreciated this piece, Emily. I rarely laugh right now. (Existential dread is real.) This made me laugh and think about something that is curiously important and not life threatening. Thank you for the breath of fresh air.

Expand full comment
Emily Burnett's avatar

I'm so glad to have been a breath of fresh air in your world, Katie. Thanks so much for telling me. This was one of those ones that I hesitated to share because, while it felt "curiously important" (love how you put that), I didn't know if others would "get" it.

Expand full comment
Daria Diaz's avatar

I didn't like my name growing up. I got a lot of teasing about it. It was different. Unique. No one ever asked, "Daria who?" I was the only Daria. But as I got older, I grew to love my name; love that it was unique. I am different. My name suits me.

Expand full comment
Emily Burnett's avatar

That not wanting to be different as a kid, and kids making a big deal over such small things is so real and unfortunate. I really enjoyed reading your experiences so thank you very much for sharing. Owning your uniqueness is really powerful.

Expand full comment
Kerry Graham ✨'s avatar

Ohhh, the resentment I had in childhood and adolescence for not being named Kerri.

Expand full comment
Emily Burnett's avatar

This made me laugh out loud. Not just grin, but laugh. I'm glad you've been able to let go of that resentment!

Expand full comment
Kerry Graham ✨'s avatar

That makes me happy! (Apparently I only responded to you in my mind, not in real life, like I’d thought.)

Expand full comment